Display-case and packing-receptacle.



J. E. HUGHES.

DISPLAY CASE AND PACKING RECEPTAGLE.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 15. 1911.

1,099,373. Patented June 9,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

JOHN E. HUGHES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY-CASE AND IPACKING-RECEPTACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 15, 1911.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Serial No. 608,650.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that 1, JOHN E. Huonns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display- Cases and Packing-Receptacles; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numbers of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Very often commercial travelers are greatly inconvenienced by lack of accommodations for displaying, their goods. Inasmuch as a certain amount of packing and unpacking is incident to the exhibition of their wares, it becomes advisable for the salesman to have at his disposal a receptacle for readily carrying his goods and at the same time affording a display means for the same. It is further desirable that immediate access may be had to any part thereof, and a minimum amount of time be necessary for performing the operationsaof packing and unpacking the receptacle or case.

The object of this invention is to afford a packing and display receptacle or case so constructed as to enable the entire contents of the case to be quickly and easily accessible without disturbing or disarranging the other articles contained therein.

It is also an object of the invention to afford a construction in which the entire contents of such case may be displayed simultaneously and advantageously with out unpacking, and permit the receptacle to be again closed for transportation without delay or the handling of the goods or articles contained therein.

It is an object of the invention also to afford in a device of the class described a succession of display trays, each offset from the others, and adapted to elevate and support each tray clear of the remaining trays and in position to render the contents of any tray quickly accessible.

The invention embraces many novel features and consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of one convenient form of trunk or receptacle embodying a part of my invention, showing the same closed. Fig. 2 is a reduced front elevation, showing the same open with the display trays elevated and extended. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the display trays showing the same removed from the main container or trunk. Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof, showing one set of the trays laterally extended and ele vated. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

As shown in the drawings: the display trays are assembled supported in a trunk comprising a bottom 1, back 2, lid or cover 3, (the latter of any suitable construction) and relatively low side and end walls 4 and 5, on each of which, as shown, is hingedly connected a front wall section 6, and end wall section 7, of a height sufficient to extend to the top of the back wall 2, when closed inwardly, as shown in Fig. 1.

Removably seated in the bottom of the trunk is a tray 8, which fits within the trunk bottom, as shown in Fig. 2, with the top thereof, if desired, flush with the top of the stationary end and side walls, and may be supported upon cleats 9, to afford a bottom apartment below the tray, or may be resting on the bottom of the trunk, as preferred. Supported upon said bottom tray 8, and upon each other, is a pluralifly of trays 10, 11, 12 and 13, of any require depth or capacity, and of sufficient number preferably to fill the trunk to, or above the back wall 2, and, of course, the hinged front and end walls when closed inwardly. Said trays in the construction shown, are arranged in two groups, each having a length equal to half the length of the bottom tray to wholly fill the trunk when closed inwardly, and said groups are individually connected on the bottom tray at each end thereof, and the trays of each group successively on each other. For this purpose, as shown, outer and inner straps or links 14 and 15, preferably of relatively thin metal, are individually connected at their lower ends on the bottom tray at the end thereof, and inwardly from the end respectively, and at their upper ends are individually connected at the inner end of the first tray 10, and intermediate the ends of the tray, as shown in Fig. 4, and secured on each side of each tray near the bottom, is a guide and brace strap 16, of metal, which extends outside the hinged link 14, in each case and affords an inner shoulder at the inner end of the strap 16, as shown in Fig. 5, to serve as a stop for the ,corresondin braces and uide stra s 16 engage outside the outer hinged link in each instance and serve as stops therefor at the outer limit of the trays.

The operation is as follows: The display and packing trays or receptacles, whether secured within a trunk such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or in a smaller packing case such as a hand valise or grip, may be readily lifted 7 from the container, which, when closed, may serve as a base or support for the display trays, should such a support be desired. When the container or case is opened, however, as shown in'Fig. 2, either or both sections may be elevated and swung.

outwardly to display position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, owing to the link connections between the bottom tray and the next succeeding tray, and between the succeeding shorter trays.

Each tray serves as a support for the.

trays above the same, and the hinged links are of suflicient length to elevate each tray sufliciently above the tray next below the same to afford unobstructed access or inspec- 7 tion. Furthermore, said links are so engaged upon the trays that the liftingand outward swing of the tray sections alfords a stepped relation of successive trays, thereby wholly exposing and uncovering approximately half of each tray, thus rendering access to th contents of each tray very con-' venient and easy. I

. By reference to Fig. 5 it will be observed that the straps 16 are disposed with respect to their inclosed links 14 so that they lie,

between the pivots of the latter, whereby the support afforded thereby, when serving as stops for the trays, is of a more substantial character than would be the case were such stops disposed at the pivots of said links. When it is desired to re-pack, it is only necessary to close the trays inwardly and downwardly upon the base tray 8, whereupon the I same, if previously removed from the trunk or case, may be returned thereto and the container or case closed, as shown in Fig. 1, and without the necessity of touching or han-' dling any of the goods in repacking.

Inasmuch as the size of the display trays may, of course, vary with the quantity and character of goods to be carried and displayed therein, it is evident that packing anddisplay trays such as described may be made of large size for trunks or of smaller size for hand cases or grips. The particular carrying receptacle for the trays may be varied as convenience may require, and the suc Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by'addressing the Commissioner-cf ratenta' bottom tray, links in pairs affording a oonnec- 3 tion between said trays on each side thereof and successively engaged on the outer end of the lower tray and near the middle of the next.

upper tray, and at the inner end of said upper tray and intermediate the ends of the next lower tray, said links permitting the trays to be swung upwardly and outwardly upon each other, and guides secured on said trays inclosing said links and disposed be- M tween their points of pivotal connection to engage and limit the movement to a substantially vertical position of said links and to afford a lateral support therefor.

2. A device of the class described, em-

bodying a case, a bottom tray therein, al

group of trays adjustably supported on each end of said bottom tray and each of half the length of said bottom tray, links in pairs affording a connection betweensaid trays on each side thereof and successively engaged on the outer end of the lower tray and near the middle of the next upper tray, and at the inner end of said upper tray and inter mediate the ends of the next lower tray, said links permitting said trays to be swung up wardly and outwardly upon each other, and stops engaging said links between their points of pivotal connection to limit such movement to a substantially vertical position of said links.

3. A device of the class described, embodying a bottom tray, a tray adjustably supported in said bottom tray, links affording a connection between said trays to swing said upper tray upwardly into parallel relation with said bottom tray, and a stop secured'on one of said trays and disposed'be-r tween the points of pivotal connection of one ofsaid links in position to be engaged by said link when the latter reaches a vertical position to limit the movement of the latter past said vertical position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. JOHN E. HUGHES.

Witnesses: V y 1 LAWRENCE Rnresrnnv, ;CHAPLES W. HILLs, Jr.

, Washington, D. G. 

